The Labor enquirer., 1887-07-09
THE ENEMY.
What They Have 10 Say About
the Horrid So
cialists.
"GIVE THEM The BAYONET. +"
The Peculiarly Peaceful Utterances
Of the Capitalist
Glass.
Editor Labor Enquirer.


WIIxEsBARRE, Pa.-A grand fair was
held in this city in May, 1886, at which
was published paper The Bayonet, "In
war the sower Of death In peace the reaper
of news. Official journal of the Ninth
Regiment Armory Fair, Wilkesbarre, Pa,
Tuesday, May 1s, 1885, The paper which
I quote was the issue Of the second day Of
the fair. The first article on the first
page is headed 1.-THE Fairs object" San
archy and Socialism to be held at bay"
"a warning that cannot be neglected
Peace to be preserved only by prepara-
tion for war-A cause that needs the help
of ALL"
The first line of the heading is in orna-
mented capitals. The second sentence in
small caps. The last quotation in heavy
faced type. The editorial continues: "It
is not many years since over our land the
trumpet-blast sounded the alarm for war.
It proved to be fierce and bloody strug-
gle, unholy as being between near kindred
and to be deprecated because it threat
ened to destroy the grand spectacle Of q
united and leviathian nation dismem-
bered and spoiled in Its integrity. Never
theless in 30 far as bloody contests can be
so, it was war in its most mai jestic how
ever terrible aspect; war conducted on
universally established and mutually ac-
'knowledged principles. of valor. It was a
struggle between brothers for supremacy
in which ascendancy was the object, and
battle the means to that end.
Now, however, comes the alarm of an
other and far more formidable enemy,
one who is already in our midst-who
knows no valor and acknowledges no prin-
ciples, but who, rearing his ugly head un-
der the bloody banner of the Anarchists,
and with the battle cry of Socialism,
strikes not for conquests but for annihila-
ton; aims not at supremacy but univer-
sal subsection, seeks not to fulfill but to
destroy. It will not do to decry the warn
ing or pay no heed to the alarm. Recent
events convince us that in all our large
commercial and manufacturing centres
the monster is thoroughly organized,
drilled and armed for the conflict which
he not only predicts but seems deter
mined to precipitate between capital and
labor in this country. In that great con-
flict this avowed destroyer seeks further
to strengthen his hands by seeking not
only to implant but to intensity feeling
of distrust at variance with the best inter
ests of both classes, and works only to
promote discord and animosity of the
most implacable type. It would be un-
just to true labor to impute for moment
that the sentiments breathed by this So
cial pest find either place or encourage
ment to any great extent in the breasts OF
either the honest laborer or the mechanic;
but it must be borne in mind that all the
elements Of disorder in this country are
in sympathy with him, and that the great
and ever-growing army of tramps would
rally to his support at any crisis that
might arise.
"What then is our duty in the premises
Our country, our happiness, nay our very
safety demands as . matter of common
concern that the hands of the government
should be strengthened, sanstioned, up
held and defended at all times and in all
places by every class Of American citizens
to whom love of liberty and true patriot
ism are imperishable attributes-upheld
by the individual conscience, by public
opinion, by legislation, by courts of law,
by the church and by the state.
Both history and experience
however have taught us that the machin-
cry of any form Of government cannot al
ways be operated by the civil authority